Perfluorinated membrane electrode assembly containing metal-free-catalyst cathode for anion exchange membrane fuel cells

An important advantage of anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) is non-noble metal catalyst (NMCs) can be used in cathode thus drastically reducing the cost compared to proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, development of ionomer binder and membrane in perfluorinated membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for NMCs-based cathode are still insufficient. Here, we created a perfluorinated MEA containing metal-free-catalyst cathode derived from soluble perfluorinated ionomer and its membrane via catalyst-ink-based methods. Meanwhile, metal-free nitrogen-carbon (N, S-P-CNFs) electrocatalyst structure with soluble ionomer as the catalyst blinder was prepared and exhibits obviously 4e ORR catalysts activities. The resulting perfluorinated MEA exhibits a peak power density of 105.1 mW cm-2 at 80°C (Pt/C cathode and N, S-P-CNFs anode) in H2/O2 (CO2-free) fuel cells.